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The Jack Birch Unit at the North of England Cell Biology Forum 2024

29 Oct 2024

On Friday 20th September, York Against Cancer-funded researchers from the Jack Birch Unit attended the North of England Cell Biology (NECB) forum, held at the National Stem Learning Centre in York. The meeting was an excellent opportunity to find out about the latest developments in cell biology across the region, as well as to network and discuss research with other early career scientists.

Research at the JBU is currently centred around the causes, prevention and treatment of bladder cancer. Dr Jenny Baker presented a poster with the title “Cx32 Gap Junctions and Urothelial Homeostasis”. Jenny’s research is focused on how cells communicate with each other to maintain a healthy bladder lining and how this is affected in bladder cancer.

George Hatton, York Against Cancer funded PhD student, presented a poster called “Is Interferon Signalling the Mechanism for Bystander Carcinogenesis during BK Polyomavirus Infection?”.  In his PhD, George is studying a virus known as ‘BK’, which is suspected as a causative agent in bladder cancer. George is interested in how normal urothelial cells detect and respond to BK infection, and in understanding how this interaction may then lead to cancer.

George shared, “The North England Cell Biology forum – this year held at the STEM learning centre in York – is a great opportunity for postgraduate and early career researchers to present research on a broad spectrum of topics, from biomedical science to plant biology. Being my first conference, I was nervous but excited to present my research from my first year as a YAC-funded PhD student.

“The work I presented, which has been developed along with my supervisor Dr Simon Baker, is focused on how the lining of the bladder detects and responds to the BK virus, which we believe may result in the development of bladder cancer. My research was well received, and I was able to have fascinating discussions with other early career researchers on the different directions my project may take. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and look forward to taking part in more in the future!”

The Jack Birch Unit is taking great strides in urothelial cancer research and we look forward to seeing how their research will affect the field as time goes on.